Multiple car parking apparatus and installation therefor



Sept. 6, 1955 H. F. MORLEY MULTIPLE CAR PARKING APPARATUS AND INSTALLATION THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 51, 1955 INVEN'TOR Eerie)? I flol-Jqy' BY M Ag- A1 ATTORN E Y5 Sept. 6, 1955 MULTIPLE CAR PARKING APPARATUS AND INSTALLATION THEREFOR Filed March 51, 1955 H F. MORLEY 2,717,088

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M wa I A ORNFYS Sept. 6, 1955 H. F. MORLEY 2,717,038

MULTIPLE CAR PARKING APPARATUS AND INSTALLATION THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 51, 1955 R S a g8. ar m: m w w 68 E m DNA in w a Q v o 0 m9 I. fl NM W 2 3 @5931 u A i. 3 2. m7 @N. m a m: a 8; 5 5: B r E a war. R F Oi 6Q mv MM? H a N 3 Mn. E M in. o: an, 21 MM :3 N9 N2 5 3; E 3. N2 3. 3w E 8? AWN m: we 3. m: m an m! N N m W9 68 w J m 2 5 ms 5 3. V J E as 2% W. n FIWL m2 nmw a 6M. .a. 8 m X N 6mm dnfi United States Patent 'O MULTIPLE CAR PARKING APPARATUS AND INSTALLATION THEREFOR Herbert F. Morley, Chevy Chase, Md. Application March 31, 1953, Serial No. 345,840

8 Claims. (Cl. 21416.1)

The present invention relates to storing structures and more particularly to an apparatus or structure for parking automotive vehicles to increase the parking capacity of a given area of land. This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending application Serial No. 266,209 filed January 12, 1952, now abandoned, and entitled Multiple Car Parking Apparatus and Installation Thereof.

The problem of adequate parking space for private automobiles in and around urban communities is extremely serious and appears to present an increasingly serious problem for the future. The only solutions to this problem are to either legislate the private automobile ofi city streets or to provide adequate off-street parking areas. While multiple-storied parking garages, ramp, elevator (Patent 1,303,978) and automatic elevator type have been offered as solutions to this problem, those proposed to date do not provide a solution either from the automobile owners point of view or the point of view of parking garage operators.

The main objection on the part of the automobile operator is the lost time in entering and leaving and the high cost of parking due to the fact that multiple car parking buildings, as heretofore proposed, are necessarily widely scattered, because of the large ground areas needed, and require high payments and several blocks walking on the part of the driver, even after he parks his car. In inclement and unduly cold or hot weather this walking problem is particularly objectionable.

The main objection to the prior art parking garages on the part of the operators is the heavy initial cost of constructing such a garage building and the high operating and maintenance cost thereof and slow ingress and egress militating against patronage all of which necessitates either acceptance of a relatively small and inadequate return on their investment and/or an inordinately high parking charge in an effort to secure an economically fair or adequate return. Except in isolated cases where conditions force car operators to use such high price garages in spite of the high cost to the driver, mechanized parking structures just have not been fully accepted.

It, accordingly, is a primary object of this invention to provide a mechanized car parking structure that may be inexpensively erected and installed on a building lot of a relatively small size to minimize the initial investment and result in lower operating and maintenance costs to garage operators while increasing the parking capacity of a given lot to at least four times its unimproved capacity to' assure reasonable parking charges to users and an adequate return on investment to operators.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a car parking apparatus composed for the most part of readily available and conventional structural steel elements and conventional and inexpensive types of hoisting mechanisms.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro es vide a car parking apparatus which in use permits park- 7 ing garage operators to provide an entrance driveway of minimum width for receiving cars and turning them for parking along the sides of the driveway at angles thereto.

More specifically it is' an object of the present invention to provide a car parking apparatus composed spective tiers of the tiered storage structures at a predetermined position for loading or unloading.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a tiered series of car storage platforms or support structures pivoted at one end in superposed spaced relation for movement to and from a tilted loading position to storage position in which the pivots for the storage platforms or support structures are supported on sub frames arranged for vertical sliding movement in a vertically supported skeleton framework to reduce the inclination of the car storage platforms or support structures to a minimum during movements to and from the loading position to the storage position so as to maintain the inclination of the various platforms at all times well within the practical limits of the braking power of conventional automobiles.

It is another object of the present invention to pro-' vide tiered, pivotally supported inclined car support platforms or support structure units in which each platform or support structure has automatically operable stop means for holding an automobile stored thereon to com-' ply with governmental or city ordinances which may require such a safeguard.

It is still another object of the present invention in a preferred form to provide car storage structures in tiered series of three vertically spaced car storage platforms, two of which are pivotally carried at one end on a sliding subframe and connected together for correlated sliding and pivotal movement, and the third of which is positioned vertically above said two car storage structures and pivotally supported at one end on a second sliding subframe normally vertically spaced from the first mentioned sliding frame but adapted to be abutted thereby in operation and cooperate with said two storage platform structures to selectively pick up and move the third platform to and from loading and load supporting position.

Still-another object of the present invention is to provide a series of tiered car support structures adapted for pivotal or pivotal and sliding movement to and from a loading position through a conventional hoist of the inexpensive dump truck type and to interpose between the elevating hoist and the car support structures a pivoted actuating beam or arm lever system arranged to magnify the movement of the hoist mechanism so as to obtain the desired movement of the support structures between loading and storage position.

A still further object of thepresent invention is to provide a car parking structure consisting of opposing rows of tiered car parking apparatuses arranged to define between them an entrance driveway extending longitudinally from end to end of a parking lot and providing oppositely facing parking bays arranged to receive cars heading therein at right angles to the entrance driveway and including vertically spaced, pivotally supported car supportstructuresadapted to be moved from a normal car storage position aboveor below the level of the entrance driveway to a car receiving (or car discharging position wherein the car support structures are inclined upwardly or downwardly respectively with respect to the level of the entrance driveway.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide the car support structures next below the level of the entrance driveway referred to in the preceding object with upstanding frame elements supporting a transversely extending vertically spaced platform which cooperates with the entrance driveway and the other sequentially arranged transversely extending platforms or with the opposite transversely extending platforms and sequentially arranged transversely extendingplatforms to provide a longitudinally extending driveway of adequate width tovreceive automobiles and permit them to be turned to a position at right angles to the length of the entrance driveway to be driven into a selected storage bay.

Additional objects will appear from the following desecription when read in conjunction with the appended claims and attached drawings wherein:

Figure l is aplan view, with certain parts broken away, of a car parking structure embodying the parking apparatus of the present invpntion and illustrating one manner in which the present invention can be installed to at least quadruple the parking capacity of a lot of fifty foot width;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of a modified preferred form of the present invention which may be used in place of the embodiment of Figure l or utilized in the manner indicated in Figure 3 to serve in a situation where even a minimum permanent driveway section between the car parking apparatuses is desirably eliminated; and

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3 to illustrate the sliding frame structure employed in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3.

With further reference to the drawings wherein the same reference numerals are used throughout to indicate similar parts and for the moment particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the present invention in one form contemplates :an entrance driveway 16 extending centrally throughout the length of a lot 50 feet in width and at street level. As illustrated, driveway 10 is scaled to a width of 14 feet and along each side thereof is providcd with a skeleton framework 11 extending outwardly from each side of driveway 10 a distance of 18 feet. Frame-work 11 is composed of vertically extending I-beams 1 2 interconnected longitudinally of driveway 19 .by vertically spaced, horizontally extending I-beams '13 to provide a vertically :extending skeleton frame-like wall 14. Wall 14 along its lower edge is supported by the usual footings in conventional manner. Since these footings are Well known condriveway 10 and connecting the opposite skeleton frameworks 11. Storage bays 21-and22-provide additional storage space, the former, space that may be used for storing short wheel-base.automobilessuch as the present day English made cars, jeeps, and like vehicles substantially less in length than the 14 foot width of driveway it It is to be understood that storage bays 21 provide storage space in addition to that hereafter mentioned for quadrupling the parking capacity of a 50 X 125 foot lot and may be eliminated to reduce expense of the initial installation.

The present invention also provides for a still further storage floor extending the full length of driveway 10 and spaced above the driveway as indicated at 9 a distance above thepivot of platform .25 greater than the distance of the said pivot above driveway 10 to permit a storage platform Width two feet wider than driveway .15). Storage floor 9 and storage bays 22 may be utilized to store smaller wheel-based cars of American manufacture, such as the Plymouth, Chevrolet,-Ford and the like, the wheelbase length of which does not exceed the 16 foot width of floor 9.

The mechanism contemplated by this invention for use in storing cars and shifting the cars from level to level for storing purposes is quite simple. The same structure is employed in each storage bay 19 and, forpurposes of brevity, the mechanism in one bay only, viz., that disclosed in Figure 2, will'be hereinafter described.

As clearly seen from Figure 2, each bay 19 is provided with a car storage platform structure 24 and a car sup port structure 25.

While both car storage platform structure 24 and a car support platform 25 are required to obtain the maximum storage results of this invention, 'it is to be underventional structures, they have been omitted inFigure 2 for convenience.

Extending from wall '14 toward driveway 10 just below the surface of the driveway level are a succession of longitudinally spaced channel bars 15 connected in a conventional manner at their outer ends to vertical I-beams 12 and supported'at their opposite ends by 'I-beams'16 resting on conventional footings 17 (Figure .2) in convent-ionalmanner. Successive-channels 1'5 define between them-individual storage "bays 19 preferably 15 to 'a side on '50 x 125 foot lot delimited at their outer ends by wall 14 and-at their-inner ends by I-beams 16 longitudinally interconnected'by channel bars '20. As illustrated, each storage bay is roughly '18 feet in length, 8 feet 6 inches in width, extends downwardly below driveway 10 adistance roughly 15 feet and upwardly, as defined by the upward extension of wall 14, a v.distanceof roughly 6,

stood that framework 11 in conjunction with car storage platform structure 24 alone could be used to more than triple the storage space in conjunction with bays 21 and 22.

Referring first to car storage platform structures 24, each of these devices comprises an upper car support platform .26 and alower car support platform 27. In order to provide adequate strength, each support platform preferably comprises a surface plate28 in the form of a metal ,grating and supporting side channels .29. Each channel .29 at its end remote from driveway 10 is preferably rigidly connected to va journal :bracket 31 which is in turn supported by a stub shaft 32 suitably secured to the respective vertical I-beams 12 by means of a support bracket .33 in suitable manner. As clearly seen in Figure l, shafts 32 project outwardly from both ends of bracket 33 to provide pivot journals for adjacent car storing and handling mechanisms. The car support platforms '26 and 27, adjacent their opposite ends, are maintained in predetermined space relation by means of a post '35 mounted on each of side channels 29 of lower car support platform 27 and provided at its upper end 27 is assured provided moving power is applied to car support platform 27. I i i Movement of car storage platform structure 24 is preferably effected by any suitable conventional hoist mechanism. While mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, hydropneumatic or air powered hoist mechanism may be effectively employed, the present invention, because of convenience in applying the motive force and the lesser expense involved, contemplates compressed air hoists. To most effectively operate the storage mechanism of the present invention, a compressed air hoist 40 is preferably provided for each car storage platform structure 24 and a similar hoist 41 is preferably provided for each car support platform 25. The hoists 40 for car storage platform structures 24 are preferably located in the bottom of each bay and rigidly mounted on suitable footings 42 in well known manner.

Best application of the lifting forces of each hoist mechanism 40 is obtained by centering the hoist transversely with respect to its respective car storage platform structure 24. Each hoist 40 embodies a piston rod 43 the upper end of which is threaded to receive a cap 44 having upstanding ears for journalling a roller 45 adapted to engage in guide track 46 in the form of a channel bar suitably secured to the undersurface of grating 28 of car support platform 27. Roller 45, it will be appreciated, is necessary in view of the changing point of engagement between rod 42 and guide rail 46 in the pivotal movement of lower car support platform 27.

In order to actuate hoist mechanisms 40, the present invention contemplates a suitable source of compressed air, such as a compressed air tank 47 supplied with compressed air at suitable pressure by conventional compressors (not shown) and individual solenoid operated control valves 48 disposed in branch lines 49 connected to main supply line 51 through suitable fittings in conventional manner. Valve 48 is conventionally controlled from a remote control panel located adjacent the entrance of driveway in a well known manner. Since the details of such a control panel and control wiring do not constitute a part of this invention, a detailed disclosure thereof is not believed necessary here. It is to be noted however that the valve control circuits must be so arranged that car support platform 27, in addition to the solid line position shown in Figure 2, may move to and be stopped at the two dot-dash line positions indicated in Figure 2 to effect loading and unloading of car support platforms 27 and 26 respectively.

It will be appreciated that the inclination of car storage platform structures 24 and car support platforms in their normal storage positions is such that a stored car may, unless its parking brakes are in proper work ing order, roll off car support platforms 25, 26 and 27. To insure against such an eventuality, car storage platforms 25, 26 and 27 are each provided with a stop block 53 adjacent their pivoted ends to engage the front wheels and manually operable stop finger 54 arranged to engage the rear axle or some other part of the vehicle understructure when selectively moved to stop position.

A preferred means for operating stop fingers 54 may take the form of a manually actuated gear and turnstile mechanism designated generally by numeral 57 in Figure 2. Mechanism 57 preferably comprises a worm gear 58 non-rotatably secured to a cross-shaft 55 adjacent the drivers side of platform 27, a worm pinion 59 secured to a right angularly disposed shaft 60 journalled in journal hangers 61 mounted on the inner side flange 56 of the drivers side channel member 29, beveled gear 62 secured to the opposite end of shaft 60, a beveled gear 63 meshing with gear 62 and mounted on a shaft 64 rotatably journalled in post of platform 27 and posts 71 of platforms 25 and 26 and turnstile arms 65 and 66 secured in the upper ends of shafts 64 and 6 extending outwardly through suitablearcuate slots 67 in posts 35 and 71. Each set of arms 65 and 66 are respectively disposed at a 90 degree angle to each other and extending outwardly to alternately span the walking area provided at the drivers side of the respective platforms. Mechanism 57 with worm gear and pinion drive arrangement of proper design, prevents reverse rotation of the mechanism under influence of the Weight of the automobile thereby assuring non-movement of the car rearwardly when the support platforms are inclined downwardly from their pivot axes. Since arms 65 and 66 extend inwardly from the side edges of the platforms or parallel to the edge depending upon whether the stop finger 54 is lowered or raised, they do not interfere with movement of the 'car storage platforms yet assure that an operator will not forget to actuate the locking stop since one or the other of the arms extends across the passageway to be followed in getting into or leaving the car. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the pres ent stop finger and operating mechanism provides an extremely simple and inexpensive means for securing a car against movement from a stored position on platforms 25, 26 and 27 in operation of the parking appa ratus.

'While the present invention contemplates provision of upper car support platform 25 to secure maximum parking space, it will be appreciated that the car storage platform structures 24 so far described may alone be used to effect a substantial increase in parking capacity of a given land area and the car support platform 25 could be readily omitted in initial installation and added later if desired.

In any event, the'utilization of a narrow entrance driveway 10 asheretofore pointed out makes it necessary to provide additional space in which to manipulate a car to turn it at right angles to the driveway when access thereto is obtained from the ends of the driveway and to provide car storage space along each side of the entrance driveway for'a'n additional fourteen cars. These fourteen cars together with those stored on platforms 25, 26 and 27 and in bay 22 'will store 119 cars whereas the unimproved lot will store but 36. The invention meets this problem by providing driveway extension platforms 73, individual to each car' storage platform structure 24, ofabout five feet width as seen in Figure 2. Platform extensions 73 are supported by upright channel bars 74 secured to side channel bars 29 of car support platform 26 about four feet in from the driveway ends. As clearly illustrated in Figure 2, each platform '73 comprises a grating plate' 75 rigidly secured to a pair of parallel, longitudinally extending L-shaped structural elements 76 welded or otherwise securely fixed to the upper 'ends of channel bars 74. Channel braces 77 are also preferably secured to the driveway end of elements 76 and to the side faces of the respective channel bars 74 to brace driveway extension platforms 73 and adapt them i to support the weight of a vehicle. As clearly seen from Figure 2, channel bars 74 are of sufficient length to pro vide adequate clearance between platforms 73 and'the respective support platforms 26 to freely receive a car to be parked and to insure approximate alignment between driveway 10 and platforms 73 when car storage platform structures 24 are in their lowermost normal positions and provide a driveway twenty-four (24) feet in width. Such a'drive permits storage of seven cars along each side and a clear driveway of nine foot width between for incoming and outgoing cars.- It Will also be appreciated that removal of a parked car at the side of driveway 10 will expose two adjacent cars to afford ample roomto back a car off a storage platform and turn it into the center driveway or vice versa in storing a car.

Referring for the moment to Figure 1, it will be noted that the end of each platform 73 preferably overlaps the adjacent cross channels .15 and together provide a '7 substantially continuous, longitudinally extending, driveway extension at each side of driveway 10. Platforms 73 are preferably of the order of feet .in .width .as viewed in Figure 2 and in driveway extension position slope upwardly slightly from the plane of driveway 1! so a driver, when turning a car, will :know he .is on the drivewayextension and proceed with caution until the front wheels encounter the curbing 78 provided along the outer edge of each platform section 73.

Assuming upper car platform .is to be used, .the present invention contemplatesa vertically spaced pivot bracket 81 supporting astub pivot shaft 82 similar to stub shafts 32 heretofore describedmounted on each vern'cal extension of 'l-bearns 12 at a height above upper pivot 32 sufficient to freely receive the forward end of a car supported on the respective platform 26. Pivot shafts 82 like pivot shafts 32 extend in both directions beyond brackets 33 secured to .the outer ends of channel bars 84 forming the side frame elements of platforms 25. A suitable grating plate 85 secured to channel bars 84 completes upper car support platforms .25.

Upper car support platforms 25 are provided with independent hoist mechanisms 41 individual to each car support platform 25 for raising and lowering the support platforms 25. In the present invention, hoist.mechanisrn 41 for each car support platform .25 is supported by the cross channels 15 and includes a piston rod 87 having a cap 88 thereon providing upstanding arms journalling a roller 89 adapted to roll in :the channels or trackways formed by the adjacent side:channel member 84. The outer ends of car support platforms .25 are provided, as heretofore pointed out, with bumper steps 53 adapted to en 'age the wheels of .a car on the platform and prevent it from rolling forward when the platforms are in their inclined car storage positions.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that hoist mechanisms 41 are in their extended position when .car support platforms 25 occupy their normal or inclined storing position. To accomplish this end, the cylinders of hoists 41 are normally placed in communication .with main air supply line 92 through branch lines 93 and normally open valves 94. In operation of car support platforms 25, the selected valve 94 is closed to shut off the compressed air supply and connect branch lines 93 through an air bleed port which permits slow escape of air to the atmosphere and the slow lowering of the selected car support platform 25. It will be understood that valves 94 like valves 48 are solenoid operated from the main control panel inside the entrance driveway 1.6 as heretofore pointed out in connection with valve 48. It also will be clear that car support platforms 25., when lowered, will overlie driveway extension platforms .73.

While it is believed the operation of the present car parking apparatus will be clear from the foregoing description, it is to be noted that lower car support .platform 27 is utilized to move a car into position =forstorage in both underground bays 21 and 22 as well as storing a car and that upper car support platform .25 is utilized to move a car into position for storage-on upper car support platform 9 of sixteen or more feet in width as desired overlying driveway 16 and supported thereon by longitudinally spaced I-beams 95 supported on channels 15 at each side of the driveway outwardly beyond the outer side of driveway extension platforms 73 and interconnecting cross channels 97 tied into assembled relation by longitudinally extending channelmember 98.

It is to be further understood that when a car is to be delivered to either bay 21 or bay 22 from car support platform 27, the driver will remain in the car and'back it oil? car support platform 27 into the selected bay. The respective stop finger 54, therefore, is not actuated and remains in its lowered position since the driver does not leave the vehicle and move arms-65 and 66 to car stopped position. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the present car stop fingers 54 and mechanisms-.57 notonlyauto:

matically assure placement of stop 54 when required but assure stops 54 being :in inoperative position atall times when a car is being lowered with the rdriver'applying the service brakes for storage in bays 21 or 22. It will also be clear that .stop ,fingers54 are automatically moved to inoperative position when a driver enters .up'on platforms 25, .26 and 27 .to remove a .car therefrom since in reaching the drivers seat he is compelled to walkbetween post .65 and post 71 and the stored car and move turnstile handle 66 :as 'hecapproaches the drivers door.

A preferred modification 'of this invention is shown in Figures 3 and 4. This embodimenteof the invention, by proper spacing of the vertical I-bearns 12a and 960 corresponding to vertical I-beams 12 and 96 of the previously described embodiment, may be used with entrance driveway 10, lower storage bays 21. and 22 and ipper storage .floor'9 to efiect multiple car storage in the manner heretofore pointed :out. This embodiment, however, also lends itself for use to substantiallyincrease the parking area of even narrower lots by installing-it in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 and provides a-storage unit of even greater safety. In the illustrated use of this preferred embodiment, the .partscorresponding to similar parts of the previous embodiment have been designated by similar numeralsfollowedby the letter, little (1, for convenience in relating the-embodiments one to the other. These vertical I-beams at each side of the lot area are tied together by channel bars 13a suitably secured, as by welding, to the outer'faces of the flanges of the vertical risers 12a. Vertical risers 96a have been extended downwardly to footings 17 and are horizontally connected to risers 12aby vertically spaced l-beams 15a. The opposite vertical risers 96a are in turn connected transversely by l-beams 23a and 93a so the skeleton frame work will be rigidly tied together in all directions.

As clearly seen from Figure .3 I-beams 23a are longitudinally connected .by longitudinally extending, parallel, spaced ;Ibeams 12% supporting between them a relatively narrow longitudinally extending catwalk or driveway car support section 11!) taking the place of driveway 10 of the previously described form of the invention. Car support section 110 does not exceed about six feet in width. The-purpose-of this section 110 will appear as the description proceeds.

The principal difference between this form of the invention and that previously described is that the car support structures 25:: and car support structures 26a, 27a and driveway extension platforms 73a are slidably as well as pivotally supported from vertical risers 12:: through the instrumentality of sliding framework sections 121 and 122, respectively. The upward movement of each sliding framework section 121 is limited byran angular stop memher 128 welded near the top of the vertical risers 12a. Similar stop members 129 arepositioned near the bottom of the vertical risers 12a to limit the downward movement of thelower sliding framework section 122. Framework sections .121 and 122 consist of vertically extending chan* nel bars 123 (Figure 4) having trackway forming L- shaped channels 123a extending inwardly between the flanges of vertical risers 12a for sliding movement therein along the stem of a T-shapedguide track 1231) secured between the flanges of I-beam 12a. Channel bars 123 are maintained in longitudinally spaced relation by horizontally extending channel bars 124 and 125 respectively welded or otherwise suitably secured at their opposite ends to channel bars 123. Torsional resistance is built into these sliding frames 121 and 122 respectively by means of cross channel bars 26 extending diagonally between the vertical channel bars 123 and the cross channel bars 124 or 1'255and joinedat the centercrossing points by a gusset :plate 127.

As clearly seen from Figure 3, each upper channel bar 125 is-twice the depth of its corresponding lower channel.

.bar 1125 to ,provide support for pintle brackets 131 for pivotally supportingomeend of associated channel bars 29a forming the base support members of car support structure 26a and pintle brackets 132 for pivotally mounting downwardly and inwardiy inclined push bars 133 of channel form in cross section. Push bars 133 are located in spaced relation to the outside channel bars' 29a and function ina manner to be hereinafter pointed out for sliding their associated frame 122 up and down along risers 12a. The lower channel bar 125 similarly supports hinge pintle brackets 134, vertically below 'pintle brackets 331, for pivotally connecting channel bars J29ao'f lower car support structure 27a to sliding frame 122. Similarly the upper channel bar 124 of sliding frame 121 carries hinge pintle brackets 135 for pivotally mounting channel bars 84a of upper car support structure a to sliding frame 121.

To assure unitary movement of car support structures 26a, 27a and driveway extension hoods 73a, the present form of invention contemplates reinforcing channel bars 141 extending at right angles from channel bars 29a from the outer face of each channel bar of storage platform structure 27a upwardly past the outer faces of channel bars 29a of storage platform structure 26a and carrying platform channel bars 76a at their upper ends The channel bars 141 are respectively welded or otherwise secured to the channel bars 29a of car storage structure 27a and channel bars 760 andare provided at the level of the underside of car storage structures 27a with inwardly directed roller brackets 140, the rollers of which support the inner ends of channel bars 29a. Torsional strength in this structure is provided by cross channel bars 142 and diagonally disposed channel bars 143 as will be apparent to oneskilled in the art. Transverse channel bars 144 interconnect the respective pairs of channel bars 29a to impart torsional rigidity thereto. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the left hand channel member 29a of each car support structure is arranged with its flanges directed upwardly while the. righttchannel has its flanges directed downwardly and the cross channels 144 have their upper flanges spaced slightly below the upper level of the channel. This arrangement permits the installation of a flat plate 145 of a width slightly greater than one half the distance between channels 29a on the top flanges of channels 144 to serve as a support for the right car wheels and a drive walkway 14511 to the side of the left channels for use of the driver. When the left channel is chosen of a width to receive the largest size tire, plate 145 cooperates to automatically supportingly position cars of varying tread width. The flat plate 145 is constructed with an indentation 154 the lower point of which is below the lowermost point of intersection with the surface of plate 145 to receive a front wheel of 'a vehicle on the car support structures and necessitate powered removal of a carthereby aidingthe brakes in retaining the car in place; p

In lieu of stop blocks 53 as shown in'the embodiment of Figure 2, the present'forrn of the invention provides bumper plates 146 at the pivoted end of each car' support structure to abuttingly engage the front bumper of a'c'ar stored thereon. These bumper plates 146 are preferably carried by plate-like straps '147 secured to cross bars 144 respectively at points spaced inwardly from the hinge pintle brackets 132, 134 and 135. Also in lieu of separate hoist mechanism for operating the uppermost car support structure 25a, this form of the invention relies solely upon the abutting contact'between sliding frames 121 and 122 and the abutting contact between driveway extension hoods 73a and roller members 148 'journalled in journal brackets 149 carried on the respective angle bar support structures 84a and engaging transverse wear plates 1 50 mounted on channel bars 76a of driveway extension platforms 73d. The outermost ends of each of the driveway'platformextensions 73 is provided with adouble depth channelbar 151'arrangedto extend substantially above thelevel of the;platform structure'73 a to form a curbing'and a cross channel 152 at its other end'to tie the endsof' channel bars 73a together and form a support for a surface plate or grate 153 for forming between risers 96a an entrance driveway in cooperation with opposed and contiguous driveway extension hoods. These'plates may also be used, when this form of invention is arrangedto cooperate with a driveway 10 as in Figure 2, to provide'additional car storage space although such usage would necessitate removal of such a stored car every time access to one of the normally provided storage spaces had to be loaded or unloaded. Y

By use of the combination of pivoted car support structures and sliding frames *121 and 122 of this form of the invention, the inclination of the car support structures at all times can be maintained at a minimum to avoid the need for stop mechanisms, such as the stop fingers 54 of the previous embodiment. To make use of this beneficial factor, the present embodiment of the invention contemplates a different form of connection between the hoist mechanisms 40 and the support structures. In this form of the invention, the hoist mechanisms 40 are pivotally secured as at to abase plate 156 embedded in the concrete footings 17 and are disposed at an inclination toward the outer riser structures 12a. The piston rod 157 of the hoist mechanism is in turn pivotally connected at 158 to a securing bracket 159 supported midway between the channel bars 29a of the lowermost car support structure 27a on longitudinally extending I-beams which are in turn supported'at their opposite ends upon pivotally mounted channelbars or lift beams 166 disposed immediately below the lowermost channel bars 29a and hingedly connected at 167 to a cross channel 168 interconnecting the lowermost ends of risers 12a and cross reinforced by channel bars 169 adjacent its opposite ends. Each lift beam 166 approximately midway of its length is provided with a hinge pintle bracket 161 hingedly connected to the lower end of its associated push or channel bar 133, which like channel bars 141, lie just outside of channel bars 29a. Push bars 133 of each platform structure are preferably interconnected at their lower ends by a cross channel bar 173 disposed below the plane of car stor age platform structure 27a to impart torsional strength to the push bar structure.

While any suitable means may be provided for supplying actuating fluid to cylinders 40, this form of the invention contemplates the use of hydraulic fluid operating at pressures of the order of 1000 pounds per square inch and a pump motor unit 175 continuously operating to service eight bays connected in conventional manner to individual cylinders 40 by suitable flexible connectors 176 through a control valve 177 to form a closed hydraulic unit system for each bay. Control of these hoist units may be effected individually in any convenient manner. Investigation to determine the least expensive reliable control system has disclosed a hydraulic system of Sperry Products, Inc., of Danbury, Connecticut that appears particularly adaptable because of its simplicity and low expense. This system contemplates a control box 181 mounted on the respective three way control valves 177 and a master control box 182 mounted ona centrally located control panel and connected to box 181 by a low pressure oil line 183. The internal details of these control boxes form no part of the present invention and will, therefore, not be described in detail here. Their construction and operation are disclosed in one or more of United States Letters Patent 1,983,8842,197,554- 2,227,593 2,300,675 2,414,302 2,416,054 2,416,366-2,430,9302,473,282 to which reference may be had for a more detailed disclosure. It is suflicient here to note that an operator grasping lever 184 of a selected box 182 and rocking it in one direction around the axis of its lever shaft 185 forces fluid through line 1 83 to box 181 causing the fluid therein to correspondingly rock shaft 186 of box 181 and lever 187 carried thereby. Oppositt rocking of lever 184 causes reverse How of fluid inline 183 and corresponding opposite rocking movement of shaft 186 and its associated lever. Lever 187 is suitably connected to a pump control valve plunger 188 to control three way valve 177 so as to connect the discharge from pump motor unit 175 to a. selected hoist cylinder 40 upon rocking movement of its control valve in one direction and, upon rocking movement of the shaft 186 in the opposite direction to a-neural position, shuttles the-pump control valve plunger 188 to position threeway valve 177 in anon-flow holding position and upon further rocking movement in one of the other ofsaid directions to supply more fluid to cylinder 4.9 to move car support structures to their uppermost positionsor alternatively to reverse fiow of fluid from cylinders 40 to pump motor unit 175 to lower car support structures to their :normal or lowermost position or the desired intermediate position. Levers R82 are-preferably spring biased to their intermediate or neutral position cutting oil fluid flow to their correspondinghoist cylindersso that-inadvertent release of any lever 182 will merely result in car support structures being stopped in movement at whatever point they may be.

Since upper car support structure 25a is abuttingly contacted by driveway extension hoods 73a for raising and lowering of support structure 25a, means must be provided to lock support structure 25a in its uppermost car storage position. While any suitable means, including centrally controlled projectable and retractable stops mounted in risers 96a or I-beam a may be provided, an inexpensive trouble free lock structure found suitable consists of suitably located L-shaped brackets 191 Welded or otherwise secured to risers 96a and upper sloping 'I-beams 150 with a leg extending inwardly toward car support structure a but spaced to clear the sides thereof and a vehicle supported thereon and pivotally supported support channels 192 disposed inwardly from the opposite ends of support structure 25:: on centrally located king pins 193 so arranged as to swing from a normal inoperative position angularly to a transverse support position to a transverse support position resting on the support .legs of brackets 191. Support channels 192 are suitably connected by a link rod 194 to swing in unison and are preferably manually actuated by .a simple swingable actuating lever 195 journalled on the upper portion of risers 6a and having a handle .196 accessible to an operator standing on elevated car support structure 25a and an arm 197 selectively engageable in a notch (not shown) in the innermost support channel 192 so as to swing channels 192 into and out of latching position when support structure 25a is supported by hood platform 73a just slightly above its normal storage position so channels 192 will be free to swing onto and off of seats 191 without dragging.

Since the operation of this form of invention is believed clear from the preceding description of operation, a detailed description of operation will not be given here. It is also to be understood that the form of invention of Figure 3 may, if desired and the 'lot width is sufiicient, be used to deliver all day or other long period parked cars to storage bays built adjacent but beyond the sliding frame ends of support structures 25a, 26a,'27a and platforms 73a in addition to serving as storage bays themselves. These additional storage bays could be built at an extremely low price.

While particularly useful as a car parking or storage apparatus these platform structures with their sliding frames and tilting platforms may be adapted for other handling and storage usage, for example, in stacking steel structural members and like articles of .sub-

stantial weight by suitable wheeled mounting .of the units 1 for powered movement into and out of open storage racks or the like.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is 12 therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notgrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foreging description, and all changes which come within .the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A storage structure comprising an entrance driveway extending from end to end of .a storage area; a skeleton framework extending along each side of said driveway and defining at each side thereof a longitudinal series of transversely extending storage bays of a length islightlygreater than the length of the articles to be stored, each bay being of a width slightly greater than the width of the article to be stored and said framework extending below the driveway a distance slightly more than twice the height of the article to .be stored and extending above the driveway at the end remote from the driveway section a distance substantially less than the extension below said driveway; a movable storage structure for receiving articles to be stored in spaced superposed relation located in each bay and including .a pair of generally transversely extending vertically spaced support structures pivotally connected at their ends remote from said driveway to said skeleton framework and adapted to normally occupy a downwardly inclined position to store objects in that portion of each bay lying below said driveway level and be selectively elevated to position their re-' spective driveway ends to receive objects from and deliver objects onto said driveway; and hoist means adapted to engage and raise said movable storage structure to selectively present the driveway ends of said support structures alternately in position'to receive objects from said driveway and discharge objects onto said driveway.

2. A storage structure comprising an entrance driveway section zextending from end to end of a parking.

area; a skeleton frame-work extending along each side of said driveway section and defining at each side thereof a row of transversely extending storage bays of .a length slightly greater than the length of the average automobile, reach bay being of a width slightly greater than the width of an average automobile and said frame-work extending below the driveway section a distance slightly-more than twice the height of an .average automobile and extending above the driveway section at the side remote from the driveway section a distance slightly more than the height of the hood of an average automobile; .a movable storage structure for receiving two cars inspaced superposed relation located in each bay and including a pair of vertically spaced support structures pivotally supported at their ends remote from said driveway section from said skeleton frame-work ,and adapted to normally occupy adownwardly inclined ,position to store cars .in that ,portion of each bay lying .below level :of .said driveway section and be selectively moved to :a position to .re- .ceive cars from and deliver cars onto said driveway section; and-hoist means :for said movable storage structureflfor normally maintaining the driveway ends of said pair of support structures in their lowermost positions and selectively operable to raise said driveway ends of a preselected storage structure .to a selected vpredetermined elevated position to receive .and discharge .a car to be stored thereon.

:3. A storage structure comprising an entrance driveway section extending from rend to send gof "parking area; a skeleton framework extending along each side of said driveway section and defining .at each side thereof a row of transversely {extending storage abays of :a length slightly ,greater than the ilengthof the average :automobile, each tba y :being of a width slightly greater than the width of an average automobile and -.saidframework extending below the driveway section a distance slightly more than twice the height of an average automobile and extending above the driveway section at the side remote from the driveway section a distance slightly more than the height of the hood of an average automobile; a movable storage structure for receiving two cars in spaced superposed relation located in each bay and comprising an upper support structure and a lower support structure pivotally supported at their ends remote from said driveway section from said skeleton framework and adapted to normally occupy a downwardly inclined position to store cars in that portion of each bay lying below level of said driveway section and be selectively moved to a position to receive cars from and deliver cars onto said driveway section, each of said support structures at substantially the longitudinal center thereof being provided with a pivotally mounted stop lever normally lying in the plane of its respective support surface and selectively movable to an upright position to engage a portion of a stored car to hold it against movement upon inclination of said support structure to stored position together with an upstanding turnstile shaft disposed rearwardly of the drivers door of a stored car connected to said lever to move said lever to stop position and having 90 offset turnstile arms in the path of a driver entering upon or leaving the respective car support platforms to assure proper positioning of said lever upon entering or leaving the stored car; and hoist means for said movable storage structure for normally maintaining the driveway ends of said pair of support structures in their lowermost positions and selectively operable to raise said driveway ends of a preselected storage structure to a selected predetermined elevated position to receive and discharge a car to be stored thereon.

4. A storage structure comprising an entrance driveway of a width substantially less than the length of the average automobile extending from end to end of a storage area; a skeleton framework extending along each side of said driveway and defining at each side thereof a row of transversely extending storage bays of a length slightly greater than the length of the average automobile, each bay being of a width slightly greater than the width of an average automobile and said framework extending below the level of said driveway a distance slightly more than twice the height of an average automobile and extending above the level of said driveway at the side remote from the driveway a distance greater than the height of the hood of an average automobile; a storage structure for receiving two cars in spaced superposed relation located in the lower portion of each bay and pivotally supported at its end remote from said driveway by said skeleton framework and adapted to normally occupy a downwardly inclined position to store cars below the level of said driveway and be selectively moved to a position t receive cars from and deliver cars at the level of said the driveway ends of said first mentioned storage structure in its lowermost position and selectively operable to raise said driveway ends of a preselected first mentioned storage driveway; a second storage structure in each bay above 7 said first mentioned storage structure and pivotally supported at its end remote from said driveway by said skeleton framework and adapted to normally occupy an upwardly inclined position to store cars above the level of said driveway and be selectively moved to a position to receive cars from and deliver cars at the level of said driveway; means engageable with said second support structure and normally maintaining said second support structure spaced above said first mentioned storage structure sufi'iciently to receive a car therebetween; means cooperating with said second support structure and selectively operable to lower said driveway ends of a preselected second support structure to the level of said driveway to receive and discharge a car; and hoist means for said first mentioned storage structure for normally maintaining structure to a selected one of two predetermined elevated positions to receive and discharge a car to be stored thereon.

5. A storage structure comprising an entrance driveway of a width substantially less than the length of the average automobile extending from end to end of a storage area; a skeleton framework extending along each side of said driveway and defining at each side thereof a row of transversely extending storage bays of a length slightly greater than the length of an average automobile, each bay being of a width slightly greater than the width of an average automobile and said framework extending below the level of the driveway a distance slightly more than twice the height of an average automobile and extending above the level of the driveway at the side remote from the driveway a distance greater than the height of the hood of an average automobile; a movable storage structure for receiving two cars in spaced superposed relation located in each bay and pivotally supported at its end remote from said driveway on said skeleton framework and adapted to normally occupy a downwardly inclined position to store cars below the driveway level and selectively moved to a position to receive cars from and deliver cars onto said driveway; an upstanding framework individual to each of said storage'structures and supported by the opposite sides thereof adjacent the driveway ends; a platform individual to each of said upstanding frameworks extending transversely of its associated storage structure and adapted in the lowermost position thereof to cooperate with said driveway and form a driveway extension for increasing the width of the driveway'sufiiciently to permit turning of cars crosswise of the driveway; and hoist means for said movable storage structures adapted to engage and raise a selected movable storage structure to selectively present its driveway end to receive cars from said driveway and discharge cars onto said driveway.

6. The combination defined in claim 4 together with a driveway floor disposed in vertically spaced relation to said entrance driveway and adapted to receive cars for parking from said second car support structure.

7. The combination defined in claim 4 together with slidable support frames mounted on said skeleton frame work and carrying the pivotal supports for said first mentioned and second car support structures and a lever system individual to and operatively connected to each of said slidable support frames for said first mentioned car sup port structure and the associated first mentioned car support structure and to the associated hoist means of each car support structure to sequentially effect sliding movement of said support frames and pivotal movement of said first mentioned car support structure to said selected two predetermined elevated positions.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said means cooperating with said second car support structure comprises driveway extension plates supported by and in spaced relation above said first mentioned car support 7 structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 29, 1928 

